Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



FICE.

WILLIAM TAIT SNEDDEN, OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,364, dated June 27,1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM TAIT SNEDDEN, of Johnstown, in the county of Oambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Needle-Guns and Breech-Loading Fire- Arms, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to the combination and arrangement of a hammer, knife, springs, trigger, pawl, retractor, and other apparatus hereafter more minutely described, within a breechblock of different form from any now in .use, with an external metallic block and a spring in the periphery, the whole being made part of and connected with a gun-stock and gun-barrel of com mon form, for the purpose of firing a metallic or paper cartridge; the object being to simplify the parts and arrangement of the firing apparatus,

and also to make the breech-block readily removable from the weapon.

Figure 1 is a side View of breech-block, exposing external machinery. Fig. 2 is a front view of the breech-block, showing the retractor and cocking-pawl. Fig. 3 is a view of the other side of breech-block, being the external part, showing external metallic block. Fig. 4 is a rear View of breech-block, showing friction-spring in its periphery. Fig. 5 is side and front view of stock or breech-frame, showing interior of the same as fitted for and used in combination with breech block.

A in Fig. l is the rotary or vibratory breechblock, which is placed within a mortise in the breech-frame, and is held in position by the block I and its interior bolt K. B is the hammer for exploding metallic cartridges, and is attached to the breech-block A by means of a screw, L, pass ing through said breech-block and re-appearin g at N, which screw L is the common center of said hammer and knife 0. U is a knife or needle, used for exploding paper cartridges by striking apriming in the rear of the ball. It is attached to the breech-block A by screw L, is independent of the spring D, and is carried backward and forward by means of a small screw, M, passing through the hammer B, which gives to it its motion. When not firing paper cartridges this knife (J is detached by turning the screw M sufiiciently to disengage said knife from the hammer. D is a spring bearing upon the base of the hammer B at one end, fitted against the rear of the breechblock at the other end, and held in position by a shoulder upon said breeclrblock. E is a trigger of common form. F is acocking-pawl swinging upon a screw, X, one end of said pawl bearing upon the hammer, and the other projecting beyond the breech-block into a cavity within the breech-frame. Upon tilting the breech-block said cocking-pawl comes in contact with the breechframe, and by bearing upon the hammer B cocks the same. Gr is a retractor for expelling the exploded metallic cartridge, operated by a spring, 0, fitted upon the front edge of the hammer and pressing the retractor upward, which retractor engages the metallic cartridge, and, tilting the breech block, withdraws the same. H in Fig. 4 is a friction-spring in the periphery of rear of breech-block, serving to hold the breech-block in position previous to firing or when carrying the weapon. I in Fig. 3 is a metallic block attached to the exterior of breech-block A at its center, and held in position by screw and nut N, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) for the purpose of holding the breech-block in position in such way as to allow it to swing within the frame. Within said metallic block I is a sliding bolt, K, Fig. 3, which holds the metallic block I in its place and allows the ready removal of the breech-block from the breech-frame.

In use of the weapon the breech-block A is tilted by throwing forward the handle, which is an extension of said block. This movement opens the breech, cooking the hammer B, and at the same time withdraws the exploded cartridge. The paper or metallic cartridge is inserted within the breech of the gun-barrel. The breech-block is then drawn back into position by the handle,

and is held by the hand, the weapon being ready for firing. Upon pulling the trigger E the 11ammer B or knife 0 is released and thrown forward by spring D and the cartridge is exploded.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination and relative arrangement of the operativeparts herein shown and described, whereby the lock mechanism as well as cartridgeretractor are inclosed within the oscillating breech-block, as specified.

2. The metallic block I and sliding bolt K, in combination with the breech-block, for the purpose of holding said breech-block in position 4. The combination of screw M with the hamwithin the frame and making the same readily mer B and knife 0, for the purpose of carrying removable, as set forth. the knife 0 backward and forward to explode 3. The combination and arrangement of the paper cartridge.

cocking-pawl F With the hammer B the spring WILLIAM TAIT SNEDDEN.

O, and retractor G, operating Within the breechblock and breech-frame for the purpose of cock- Witnesses:

ing the hammer and Withdrawing the exploded CYRUS ELDER,

shell by means of avibratory motion of the breech G. A. KNABLE.

block, as before described. 

